Study

Focus, friendships, and future

Study is one of the best ways to find your place in a new city. It gives you a sense of purpose, you meet people with similar interests, and you establish a foothold in the community.

Maybe you want to do an art course, study photography, or take cooking classes. Or perhaps you plan to sign up for a Masters program. Go beyond the information you find online and reach out to students who have done the program in the past, just to make sure it aligns with your expectations.

There are a number of Universities and Centres that offer training in English, attracting both local and international students. If you want to study in Spanish or Catalan, you may first opt to do some intensive language work.

Avoid isolation

If you are a digital nomad who has decided to make Barcelona home for a while, you might be just too busy to study. Before you set yourself up to live on your own and work from your apartment, ask yourself how you hope to meet people. A co-working space might be worthwhile in those first few months, or an intensive Spanish course, or find a yoga course at the end of the day. This will open doors and bring you into contact with other people in a similar situation, as well as those who are already established.

Study languages in Barcelona

Intensive Spanish or Catalan courses – EOI – Escuela Oficial de Idiomas – there are several centres in Barcelona
Most Universities offer language courses for foreigners. This is a good option if you plan to enrol in a Masters program taught in Spanish.
Private language schools: many offer Spanish classes for foreigners, recognising the growing demand.
Other language courses – a good way to meet locals is to study another language

Art, photography, or design

Art

The Barcelona Academy of Art has been organising Art courses in Barcelona for 10 years and moved to its current premises near Arc d’Triomf a year ago. All courses are taught in English, with a variety of disciplines covered.

The BAA offers its students work plans based on the methods of the great academic studios of the 19th century. The painters Jean-León Gérôme, León Bonnat and Carolus-Duran, whose revised philosophy and teaching methods are integrated into the BAA, are figures of reference, emphasising the importance of the direct study of nature and the analysis of historical masters.

For art courses taught in Spanish/Catalan, take a look at Cercle Artistic Sant Lluc, just near el Mercat de Santa Caterina.

Photography

If you always take your camera with you, or constantly pull out your photo to capture the moment, or the scene that has caught your attention, then you will find yourself constantly stimulated in Barcelona.

Grisart is an established school offering photography courses.

It is the top recommendation of the four schools highlighted by Aleksandra Dynas, a photographer who has a post exactly on this topic.

Design

There are several good design schools in the city that attract international students. Elisava – School of Design and Engineering of Barcelona.

A new Master in Strategic Design in complexity is offered by Kaos Pilot from Denmark at Elisava.

MBAs & Masters

Leading MBA courses

Barcelona is home to two of the leading Business Schools in the world, IESE, and Esade. Top MBA programs are also offered at EADA, EAE, and UPF.

Beyond MBAs, there are lots of very interesting options, ranging from part-time post-graduate courses to full-time masters. Many programs are taught in Spanish and/or Catalan, as you would expect, but it’s worth exploring the options – and may be worth setting the goal to study in Spanish.

Masters Programs

This list does not cover all universities or programs available, but it should make it faster to find a good program.

Check out the summer programs offered by some of the leading Universities. This is a great way to spend a few weeks in the city in the summer months. You just may decide to come back for a longer stay.